Golf

By PHIL HICKS Sports Editor BULLARD — There was something old and something new Sunday at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club.

Just off the 18th green, a wedding was being conducted, signaling a beginning.

On the 18th green, something very familiar was happening — Dr. Frank Duphorne sinking a putt to win yet another Eagle’s Bluff Club Golf Championship.

It was the fourth straight championship for Duphorne and sixth overall.

“It feels good anytime you win,” Duphorne said. “This course is getting too long and too tough for me.”

His opponents might not agree with that assessment.

Duphorne fired a final round of 79 for a 54-hole total of 239 to edge runner-up Paul Schneider by a stroke. Schneider, of Whitehouse, carded a final round of 80.

After trailing by five strokes after the first round, Duphorne, using his irons and his putter, gradually fought back. He carded a 79 on Saturday to pull even with Schneider and build a lead on Sunday before holding off the charging Schneider.

“Paul did a great job – he just ran into a few problems and that was the difference,” Duphorne said.

Asked if he would be back to go for five in-a-row, Duphorne said the course was making it difficult since he doesn’t hit as long as some of the other players.

“The fairways were soft and I was giving up 30 to 40 yards each time off the tee,” he said. But he said his “chipping and putting” made up for the deficit off the tee.

Eagle’s Bluff Country Club, Bullard Top 10 Frank Duphorne 81-79-79—239 Paul Schneider 76-84-80—240 Jim O’Toole 83-82-77—242 Eric Ladwig 82-80-83—245 Jeff Kannard 78-85-82—245 Rick Wingfield 82-86-81—249 Rick Meewes 79-91-85—255 Johnny Winningham 85-90-80—255 Sam Smith 86-91-81—258 Tommy McJunkins 89-97-84—270 Men’s Flight Top Eight Gross – Rob Renicker, 73-78—151; 2, Jack Starwalt, 81-87—168; 3, Joe Mark Cavender, 88-83—171; 4, Eric Diehl, 92-83—175; 5, Neal Thompson, 94-89—183; 6, Dennis Kress, 97-87—184; 7, David Cannon, 101-91—192; 8, David Bibby, 98-100—198. Net — 1, Starwalt, 142; 2, Cavender, 155; 3, Diehl, 159; 4, Kress, 160; 5, Bibby, 162; 6, Cannon, 164; 7, Thompson, 165; 8, Joe Borrelli, 186. Senior’s Flight 1 Top 10 Gross — 1, Ky Evans, 79-76—155; 2, Bob Wilson, 80-75—155; 3, (tie) Larry Huitt, 80-81—161; Warren Johnson, 83-78—161; 5, Chris Faulk, 77-85—162; 6, Keith Griffin, 82-81—163; 7, John Bishop Jr., 91-81—172; 8, Monty Shank, 85-92—177; 9, Clark Gable, 93-86—179; 10, David Burger, 81-WD. Net — 1, Wilson, 139; 2, Evans, 141; 3, Faulk, 142; 4, (tie) Huitt, 145; Johnson, 145; 6, (tie) Gable, 149; Griffin, 149; 8, Bishop, 150; 9, Shank, 155. Senior’s Flight 2 Top 10 Gross — 1, (tie) Charles Etheridge, 87-79—166; Paul Gainer, 82-84—166; 3, Ted Wheeler, 84-88—172; 4, Bob Davis, 82-91—173; 5, Larry Mayo, 92-84—176; 6, Ron England, 86-92—178; 7, Boyce Irwin, 90-97—187; 8, Wayne Shamblin, 96-96—192; 9, (tie) Andy Jarvis, 113-92—205; Jim Wade, 107-98—205. Net — 1, Davis, 133; 2, (tie) Etheridge, 136; Gainer, 136; 4, Wheeler, 140; 5, Irwin, 141; 6, England, 142; 7, Mayo, 146; 8, Jarvis, 161; 9, Shamblin, 162; 10, Wade, 163.

SIX-TIME CHAMPION: Eagle’s Bluff pro Mark Cote (left) presents the Club Golf Championship trophy to Dr. Frank Duphorne Sunday at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club. Duphorne won his fourth straight title and sixth overall.
((Staff Photo By Phil Hicks))